Means for holding sectional molds.



W. P. CUNNINGHAM.

MEANS FOP HOLDiNG SECTIONAL MOLDS.

APPLcAUoN man Aue.30.1918.

Patented' Feb. 25, 1919.

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WILLIM I. CUNNINGHAM, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

' yMEANS ron HOLDING sEc'rIoNAL Moins.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 30, 1,918. Serial No. 252,118.

To allwlw'fn t may Gomera1 Be it known that IWILLIAM P. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Norristown, county ofMontgo-mery, State ofk Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Means for Holding Sectional Molds, of which the following 1s a specification. j l v i One object of my invention is to provide suitable means for holding sectional molds in proper relation to each other during the process of pouring.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for holding sectional molds Vso that they can be assembled in series for continuous casting. v v

The invention is particularly adapted to hold sectional molds .in Y which continuous chains are cast, but it will be understood that the invention can be used for molding other forms, if found desirable.

In the accompanying drawing :e

Figure l, is a perspective view of one ele- Vment of my improved means for retaining sectional molds during the process of cast- 1n Iig. 2, is a side view, showing the series of elements connected together; and

Fig. 3, is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing the mold in position ready for pouring.

In an application for patent filed by me on the 9th day of July 1918, Serial No. 244,034, I have described a sectional mold for casting continuously independent links, especially in the manufacture of anchor chains. These molds are made in quarter sections and the quarter sections are assembled in pairs side by side, the pairs being alternately arranged so as to make a series of molds which, when the metal is'poured into them, will produce castings in which the links are enchained.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in means for retaining these sectional molds in position during the casting operation so as to insure accuracy in the casting and to hold the molds after the metal has been poured and during the cooling operation. The elements of the holding Y means can be arranged end for end and mounted on a casting iioor so that the link castings can be poured independently, if desired, or they can be mounted on a movable carriage which will pass the pouring point as it travels, so that the molds can be vput in Patented Feb. 25, 19,19.'V

position at one pointand jthe metal can be i poured at another point.` Then the molds can be broken at ano-ther point, after the metal has set, and the holders returned to the first position, while the cast chain will pass out continuously `and may thus be made of any length desired.

1 is the base section of one of the elements,

having end plates 2 and an intermediate sup-Av porting plate 3 forming a support for the' mold, the end plates forming the means whereby the two adjoining elements canbe secured together. The base has a V-,sh'aped recess 4 therein to receive the bottomV portion of the mold sections 5, and these mold sections are rectangular in cross section,`w1th the exception of the top which is fiat, and

the two side clamps 6 of the elements are se- .cured by bolts 7 to the base, as shown, and

bear upon the two inclined upper surfaces of the mold section, clamping the mold sections firmly in position on the base.

At the center portion of the base is av groove 8 and at each side the clamps 6 are cnt away so as to form grooves 9, and these three grooves allow the edges of the molds to rest clear of the structure so that it will be firmly held by the clamps, thus rigidly holding the mold sections in position. Each of the end plates 2 and 3 of the elementsis notched at 10 at each side, as shown, so as to register with guides on the carriers, or other movable supports, so as to prevent strain being placed on the securing bolts, which connect the elements together, and also to prevent the elements moving out of line one with another. The clamps are provided with ribs 11 at intervals to reinforce them, and the base portion isalso provided with longitudinal ribs l2 for a like purpose.

The mold sections are made as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3, each section forng'ing a quarter of a mold for two chained links of a chain. These sections are then placed in the base section and clamps 6v are secured to the base section on each side and bear upon the upper inclined portions of the mold 'sections, holding them firmly in position. The Y y mold sections are located in one element after another and the elements are secured together as described and are moved forward. being mountedV on suitable 'carriages' may he made stationaryand the device may be moved so asto pour the metal for one link after another.

Y After the. metalr has become suiiiciently set,V the clamp plates are removed and the mold is destroyed, leaving the enchained link intact, and the base section of the elementis .removed andlreturned to the original station,' Where it is again assembled in a series and another set of molds mounted in it,-the,cha,i n passing romthe molds tothe finishing room Where. it is. .tested and, mad@ of any 'length desired. This construction for the support of the mold insures accuracy in the mold and the means for, readily handlng the,r molds Without vthe liability of fracture.

I claim:- Y

l'. InapparatusV for holding sectional molds during the process of casting, the combination of a series of baser, sections shaped to receivethe lower portion of a.

series'omolds; clamp plates secured-to the Vba, se,sections for securing the moldsrmly thereto, theibasevsections being shaped. atk

@aC/.11, end sothat thesections can be placed end to end; and means for securing the ing sectional molds during the process of casting, said apparatusrconsisting of a base having a V-shaped recess thereinand hav-l ing endplates. so located that the endl plate of one element can be secured to the end plate of another element; ancl. clamp plates for clamping the sectional moldlto thebase.

3. The combination in meansefor, holding sectionalmolds, of abasehaving a V-.shaped recess therein extending throughout its, length and having end plates whereby a.

series. of elements can be placed endrtoend and bolted so as to bring the grooves into alinement; a clamp plate located on each side of each base and-rigidly secured thereto; the clamp plates being at right angles to the Walls of the V-shaped grooveinthe base,

the clamp plates beingfspaoed apart so asto 'expose the "pouringA openings ofthe molds.

In Witness Whereofj I aIiX my signature,

WILLIAM P. CUNNINGHAM;

Copies of this 'patent may he obtainedv for ve cents each, byv addressing 'dieV Commissioner of Baten-ts,

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